The Relational Side of Teachers’ Self-efficacy:Assimilation and Contrast Effects of Classroom Relational Climate on Teachers’ Self-Efficacy

Although much is known about the sources of teachers' self-efficacy (TSE), less attention has been paid to the social-contextual specificity of TSE and the processes influencing the relevance of TSE information sources. This study investigated both dyad-level relationships and the classroom relational climate as predictors of TSE at the student and classroom level. Additionally, we explored two competing hypotheses—assimilation and contrast—articulating how teachers use information conveyed by classroom relationship experiences as a heuristic to interpret relationship experiences with individual students as a TSE source. Elementary school teachers (N = 86; 72.05% female) completed the Student–Teacher Relationship Scale and Student-Specific Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale for randomly selected children (N = 687, 50.1% girls, Grades 3–6) from their classes. Doubly latent multilevel structural equation modeling was used to test for associations of Closeness and Conflict with TSE at both the student (L1) and classroom level (L2). Contextual effects, corresponding to associations of classroom-level Closeness and Conflict with TSE above the same associations at the student level, were calculated to test assimilation and contrast hypotheses. At L1, results indicated positive associations between Closeness and TSE and negative associations between Conflict and TSE. At L2, only Conflict was negatively associated with TSE. Consistent with the contrast hypothesis, the contextual effect of Closeness, but not Conflict, was negative and significant. Hence, teachers' judgments of a relatively close classroom relational climate may lead them to perceive relational closeness with individual students in a more negative light, resulting in lower levels of TSE toward these students

The Relational Side of Teachers’ Self-efficacy:Assimilation and Contrast Effects of Classroom Relational Climate on Teachers’ Self-Efficacy

Although much is known about the sources of teachers' self-efficacy (TSE), less attention has been paid to the social-contextual specificity of TSE and the processes influencing the relevance of TSE information sources. This study investigated both dyad-level relationships and the classroom relational climate as predictors of TSE at the student and classroom level. Additionally, we explored two competing hypotheses—assimilation and contrast—articulating how teachers use information conveyed by classroom relationship experiences as a heuristic to interpret relationship experiences with individual students as a TSE source. Elementary school teachers (N = 86; 72.05% female) completed the Student–Teacher Relationship Scale and Student-Specific Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale for randomly selected children (N = 687, 50.1% girls, Grades 3–6) from their classes. Doubly latent multilevel structural equation modeling was used to test for associations of Closeness and Conflict with TSE at both the student (L1) and classroom level (L2). Contextual effects, corresponding to associations of classroom-level Closeness and Conflict with TSE above the same associations at the student level, were calculated to test assimilation and contrast hypotheses. At L1, results indicated positive associations between Closeness and TSE and negative associations between Conflict and TSE. At L2, only Conflict was negatively associated with TSE. Consistent with the contrast hypothesis, the contextual effect of Closeness, but not Conflict, was negative and significant. Hence, teachers' judgments of a relatively close classroom relational climate may lead them to perceive relational closeness with individual students in a more negative light, resulting in lower levels of TSE toward these students

Self-regulated learning:Validating a task-specific questionnaire for children in elementary school

This paper describes the development and initial validation of the Cognition and Emotion/Motivation Regulation (CEMOR) questionnaire, a task-specific questionnaire for upper elementary school students that measures self-regulated learning (SRL). Using a multistep procedure, 22 items were developed, divided over five theory-informed dimensions (Planning, Monitoring, Cognition Control, Emotion/Motivation Control, and Reflecting). The CEMOR was applied in a math context. Children from grades 3–6 (N = 547, 54.7 % females) completed the CEMOR. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the five proposed scales have adequate to good model fit, with factor loadings ranging from .54 to .83, and acceptable to good composite reliability (ρ range = .75–.85). To find further validity support, the SRL scales were correlated with students’ performance on a math task, experienced emotions, and level of motivation during the task. Most correlations were statistically significant and in the expected direction. Hence, the CEMOR questionnaire shows promise as a new SRL instrument for elementary education

Self-regulated learning:Validating a task-specific questionnaire for children in elementary school

This paper describes the development and initial validation of the Cognition and Emotion/Motivation Regulation (CEMOR) questionnaire, a task-specific questionnaire for upper elementary school students that measures self-regulated learning (SRL). Using a multistep procedure, 22 items were developed, divided over five theory-informed dimensions (Planning, Monitoring, Cognition Control, Emotion/Motivation Control, and Reflecting). The CEMOR was applied in a math context. Children from grades 3–6 (N = 547, 54.7 % females) completed the CEMOR. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the five proposed scales have adequate to good model fit, with factor loadings ranging from .54 to .83, and acceptable to good composite reliability (ρ range = .75–.85). To find further validity support, the SRL scales were correlated with students’ performance on a math task, experienced emotions, and level of motivation during the task. Most correlations were statistically significant and in the expected direction. Hence, the CEMOR questionnaire shows promise as a new SRL instrument for elementary education

Teacher Wellbeing: The Importance of Teacher–Student Relationships

Many studies have examined the importance of teacher-student relationships for the development of children. Much less is known, however, about how these relationships impact the professional and personal lives of teachers. This review considers the importance of teacher-student relationships for the wellbeing of teachers guided by the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping of Lazarus (1991). Based on theories on interpersonal relationships, it is postulated that teachers have a basic need for relatedness with the students in their class that originates from the close proximity between teacher and student. It is discussed that teachers internalize experiences with students in representational models of relationships that guide emotional responses in daily interactions with students, and changes teacher wellbeing in the long run. In addition, the notion of mental representations of relationships at different levels of generalization could offer a window to understand how individual teacher-student relationships may affect the professional and personal self-esteem of teachers. Lastly, it is argued that the influence of student misbehavior on teacher stress may be more fully understood from a relationship perspective. The review shows that few studies have directly tested these propositions and offers suggestions for future research